BIOCHEMICAL, MORPHO-PHYSIOLOGICAL AND RESISTANCE RESPONSES OF DIFFERENT CHICKPEA VARIETIES AGAINST ROOT-KNOT NEMATODE MELOIDOGYNE INCOGNITA

Twenty-seven genotypes of chickpea were assessed against the Meloidogyne incognita population in greenhouse. Three genotypes were found immune. Seven genotypes, i.e., Bital 98, CM-88, Hassan 2K, Noor-91, Wanhar-2000, Parbat-98 and Thal 2006 were found resistant (R) with Galling Index 1; five genotypes were moderately resistant (MR) with Galling Index 2 and five genotypes were moderately susceptible (MS) with Galling Index 3. Five genotypes, namely Dusht-98, Kark-98, Kark-2, C44 and KK2 were susceptible (S) and two genotypes DG-89 and DG-92 were found to be highly susceptible (HS). Then, after screening chickpea genotypes, it was planned to determine the change in the profile of total phenolic, chlorophyll and protein contents of five resistant and five susceptible chickpea genotypes against the development of root knot nematode. There was decrease in total phenolic, chlorophyll and protein contents in susceptible genotypes. However, increase in these parameters was observed in resistant genotypes under nematode stress compared to un-inoculated ones. Moreover, it was also noted that this increase or decrease was in gradual manner. Total phenolic contents were measured highest in resistant genotype Hassan-2K and lowest in susceptible genotype Dusht-98 after the infection of M. incognita in comparison to un-inoculated. Observations indicated increase and decrease in chlorophyll contents over un-inoculated in resistant genotype Hassan-2K and in susceptible genotype C-44, respectively. Similarly, M. incognita reduced the protein contents in susceptible genotype C-44 and increased in resistant genotype Noor-91 after 7(th )day of inoculation. These parameters may be a good biomarker for M. incognita infection.